Page 35 - Plastics News December 2020
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handling perspective. The use of a virtual pack- new normal. As with many businesses, packaging
selector, which takes into consideration performance, manufacturers have been focused on weathering the
logistics and handling, may improve packaging storm, but now is the time to re-energise their
performance. However, this requires a holistic innovation activity. If anything, the pandemic has
approach to packaging throughout the entire value opened up many new opportunities. Consumers will still
chain. want to see the same progress in packaging as before
the pandemic – higher use of recycled materials, less
When customized solutions are feasible: E-commerce
companies tend to hesitate before investing in 'unnecessary packaging', , improvements in ease of
recycling – but it is important that these improvements
customized solutions. A reason for this is uncertainty of
the actual ROI. Based on learnings from research and are not made at the expense of reduced hygiene, as
studies about sustainability a matrix offering tailored that trend seems to be here to stay, at least for the next
few years. For packaging businesses that are
solutions as opposed to standardizations can be
developed for this very reason, to help companies considering adapting their product offering to address
these challenges, it's important to put in place the right
decide what packaging to use.
strategy to protect their innovations on the way to
The New normal market. It's likely that competitors will be undergoing
As the recovery gets underway, the packaging industry the same thought-process and any novel ideas or
will need to reflect on market changes and adapt to the improvements could be copied if left unprotected.
coo@aipma.net
DECEMBER 2020 35 Plastics News
